Sight for firearms



July 12, 1966 A. s, YEoMANs, JR 3,260,008

S IGHT FOR FIREARMS Filed Aug. 5, 1964 mfG-3 United States Patent O 3,260,008 SIGHT FOR FIREARMS Arthur S. Yeomans, Jr., Northford, Conn., assignor to Olin Matliieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 386,949 Claims. (Cl. 42-1) This invention relates to firearms and more particularly to a rib sight which may be readily attached to and detached from a shotgun.

One object of this invention is to provide a completely removable rib sight of such -construction yas to avoid the need for a modified barrel with la series of gun barrel posts for attachment of the sight.

Another object is to provide for conventional gun barrels a separate solid (matted) or ventilated rib s-ight of improved construction facilitating detachment and replacement of the sight easily `and conveniently without resort to additional and complex clamping accessories such as one or more extra set screws.

The sight rib of this invention is especially suitable for use with a firearm having a take-down assembly associated with the forearm of the type, for example, shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,825,170 where the forearm is readily removable and the barrel made accessible for sight attachment by unscrewing the take-down screw there shown, or of the type, as in the Winchester model 1200 shotgun, where access for attachment is by an equivalent screw cap attached by threadedly engaging with the front end of the magazine tube passing through the forearm.

In any event the rib of this invention takes advantage of the existing parts and enables attachment with 4a minimum of change.

Detachable rib sights are not new. Many, such as that of U.S. Patent No. 1,160,157, require special barrels with mou-nting posts that spoil the appearance of 'the barrel unless always covered by a rib and also require sliding connections too complicated for a low-cost, truly removable rib sight. A simpler -arrangement is that of U.S. Patent No. 805,588, 'but this requires additional set screws for connection, also an additional holding piece with clamping arms for mere frictional engagement and a tightening screw, all making such an undependable arrangement that such a rib has never come to any notable use. It will be appreciated that it is undesirable to use separate ring clamps or straps each requiring the use of one or more screw threaded connections, some tools, and time consuming and awkward handling.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a rib separate from the barrel and having intermediate the ends a single mounting band having at least one main opening for receiving the barrel or barrels and a secondary opening for receiving either the already present take-down screw or magazine tube. Preferably, the rib has, for example, a lengthwise curvature or magnetic inserts such -that when strung on the barrel it is flexed into snug formt-ting engagement with the contour of barrel exterior along the length Iof the rib.

Particularly in the absence of magnetic grips, the rib also has adjacent at least the front end, a string-on and snap-on end or guide band of resilient construction. While the rear end band is always of split construction, the front end band may be a ring. In the embodiment illustrated, such bands occur adjacent both ends of the rib and are of such diameter as to snugly embrace, somewhat more than semicircularly, the barrel and sometimes different but adjacent sizes of barrels in a range of most often used gauges and calibers of barrels. Especially ears 6 and 7 are made as thin as possible to fit between the barrel and forearm. F-or the sake of smooth appearance, ears 8 and 9 may be m-ade to extend back and/ or be con- ICC nected together as .a virtual barrel sleeve from the muzzle to the forearm 20. Such a rib can be made to fit many types and various makes and models of firearms old and new and will allow for thermal expansion while it maintains against any lateral displacement an accurate line of sight.

Adjacent the split, ears 6 and 7 of the rea-r band may be bent outwardly to form opposed external longitudinal grooves for taking longitudinally the forwardly-pointed legs of a simple U-shaped spring clip 22 (FIGURE l) Where more than resilient retention is desired at the rear band, When very thin.

The invention will be better understood from a description of a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view -of one embodiment together with some associated parts in exploded view in alignment for assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly in cross section showing the rib of FIGURE 1 assembled in one type of shotgun, partly broken away to show only the front end of the gun; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section showing the use of permanent magnets of adequate field strength.

Mounting with longitudinal constraint is always done in conjunction with a forearm or with an apertured takedown arm, lug, or bracket 16 such as that shown in FIG- URE 2 similar to aforenoted 2,825,170 in cooperation with the front of the wooden forearm 20, or in cooperation with the magazine tube cap-screw.

The mounting band 10 is strung on the take-down screw 17 and positioned against the front of forearm 20, or between the take-down bracket 16 and forearm 20 as shown in FIGURE 2, or the band may be strung on the magazine tube and positioned between the ring-like take-down bracket and the take-down cap-screw mounted on the end of the magazine tube.

The bracket is an integral part of this conventional type of barrel 15. The take-down screw 17 is also an existing part of the firearm. The only additional piece sometimes preferably employed is a simple resilient rnember 18 in suitable form such as a spring, a neoprene washer, or the compressible sleeve shown. Where ears 6 and 7 have the aforementioned opposed grooves, a clip 22 is merely pushed on from the back.

According to FIGURE 1 the sight 1 comprises an elongated rib member 2 of flexible material of suitable cross section such as that of an inverted channel or that of a rectangle formed with Ia longitudinally extending laterally arcuate trough or groove on the underside adapted to lay on the top of the barrel. This member is formed with a suitable front sight bead 3, a series of ventilation slots 4, and a suitable upper sight surface 5. Adjacent its rear end, but preferably spaced forwardly of it, is a pair of mounting ears 6 and 7 which are resilient and adapted to be spread apart and thereby the first to be strung on the barrel. At the front end of member 2 there is a similar set of ears 8 :and 9 adapted to be the last strung on the barrel.

At a suitable location intermediate the ends there is a mounting Iband 10 formed integrally with the member 2 like the aforementioned ears and depending from it. This band has a main opening 11 for clearing and receiving the barrel in such a location as toposition the band 10 adjacent the barrel forearm bracket 16. This band also has a secondary opening 12 of a size for receiving the shank of the take-down screw 17. Alternatively, opening 12 may be large enough to allow band 16 to be strung on a magazine tube. In this second embodiment, opening 12 may adapt band 10 for installation with either a take-down screw or a magazine tube.

To clear the conventional front sight rib, member 2 is provided at least at the front end with a bottom recess 13.

It may be advantageous to include in the installation, such as that shown in FIGURE 2, a resilient member 18 to take up clearance space and thereby mount the rib sight with a longitudinal fixation despite variations in dimensions and tolerances in the clearance space occurring adjacent at least one of the ibarrel bracket 16 and forearm 20.

To put the sight into the typical installation shown in FIGURE 2, take-down screw 17 is first unscrewed free of the magazine plug 21 mounted in the end of the magazine tube 19, thereby permitting the screw to be backed out of bracket 16 and the forearm- 20 to be lowered. The split band formed by ears 6 and 7 is then strung on the barrel to be followed by band and finally by the split kband formed by the ears 8 and 9. Because of their resilient character, these ears fit snugly about the barrel. To take up the clearance space occurring, resilient sleeve 18 is preferably first strung on the takedown screw 17; in fact, the resilient sleeve may be included prior to rib installation as a regular part in assembly prepositioned on the take-down screw.

To complete the installation, screw 17 is passed through opening 12, through the regular opening in barrel bracket 16 and finally screwed into the magazine plug 21 thereby compressing the resilient tube 18 against mounting band 10 and completing the installation.

Since in all installations, the ears of the split bands are designed to make more than a semicircular resilient engagement with the barrel, rib member 2 fits the barrel quite snugly in at least two locations which is generally adequate. This, together with the preferably prefiexed character of member 2, bowing it toward the barrel as shown in FIGURE 1, puts the rib in the very -best formtting contact with the top of the barrel.

Instead of the slots, as shown in FIGURE 3, ventilation may be provided by notches between depending posts 23 integrally formed with member 2. In this form especially when magnets are used, the bases of at least some of the posts have magnetic inserts 24, and recesses 13 as needed, straddled by the magnet.

It is to be understood that the main opening 11 of barrel 10 may be made large enough for one particular caliber of barrel but is preferably made to take, for example, barrels of 12, 16, and 20 gauge. The interior of each of the end bands may advantageously be beveled at the rear edge of the ears to facilitate Stringing the rib on the barrel.

It is to be further understood that band 10 may be made with a main opening either vertically elongated to take both barrels of an over and under barrel arrangement or laterally elongated to take a side-by-side double barrel.

Where the rib is to be mounted in conjunction with a magazine tube taken in the opening of barrel bracket 16 usually disposed in front of another type of forearm of the fixed or slide action type, band 10l is strung on the tube to put the band adjacent the front of either the forearm 20 or bracket 16, where band 10 is then held in place by a magazine cap screw threaded on the protruding front end of the tube, with or without the aid of a resilient member 18 mounted between either the band 10 and the cap, or band 10 and the front of either the forearm or bracket, as in the aforenoted model 1200.

The `rib 1 is formed of any suitable resilient material, preferably a light-weight material, and can advantageously be molded of any suitable heat resistant, strong resinous plastic, colored to match the barrel. A bright fluorescent color is also contemplated.

. What is claimed is:

1. A detachable sighting rib for use with a firearm of the type having a barrel, a magazine tube extending parallel to the barrel and a retaining means extending parallel with and detachably secured to the magazine tube, said rib comprising an elongated member of liexible material having Abetween its ends a length of upper sight surface, said member having dependent therefrom intermediate said ends a single mounting lband integral with said member, said mounting -band having a main opening for receiving a firearm barrel under said member and also having a secondary opening extending parallel With said main opening for receiving a retaining means extending therethrough and secured to the firearm magazine for detachably fixing said rib on said barrel, said member having means at its ends for maintaining said ends and substantially all of said member therebetween in contiguity with said barrel and retained against lateral movement.

2. The rib of rclaim 1 wherein said means for maintaining both ends includes adjacent each of the ends of the elongated member an end band integral with said member, each having a diameter and curvature such as to be spreadable and engageable snugly about the barrel at its muzzle and adjacent its breech as the means for maintaining contiguity and lateral retention at said ends, the band adjacent the breech being split to comprise a pair of depending ears.

3. A rib in combination with a gun, said gun having a barrel, a rib mounted on said barrel, said rib comprising an elongated member of fiexible material having between its ends a length of upper sight surface, said member having dependent therefrom intermediate said ends a single mounting band integral with said member and having a main opening for receiving said barrel under said member and also having a secondary opening extending parallel with said main opening for receiving another of the existing gun parts in parallelism with said barrel for detachably fixing said rib on said barrel, said member having means for maintaining said ends and substantially all of said member therebetween in contiguity with said barrel and retained against lateral movement, an apertured barrel bracket depending from said barrel, said gun including among its other existing gun parts a forearm, a magazine tube fixed in parallelism with respect to said barrel, and a detachable take-down screw for threaded engagement with the end of said magazine tube, said screw being received in said apertured bracket and secondary opening, said screw together with at least one of said band and forearm being operative for detachably mounting said rib on said barrel with at least longitudinal fixation.

4. A gun having a barrel and a sight rib detachably mounted on said barrel, said rib comprising an elongated member of flexible material having between its ends a length of upper sight surface, said member having dependent therefrom intermediate said ends a single mounting band integral with said member and having a main opening for receiving said barrel under said member and also having a secondary opening extending parallel with said main opening for receiving another of the existing gun parts in parallelism with said barrel for detachably fixing said rib on said barrel, said member having means for maintaining said ends and substantially all of said member therebetween in contiguity with said barrel and retained against lateral movement, an apertured barrel lbracket depending from said barrel, said gun including among its other existing gun parts a forearm and a detachable take-down screw adapted for passage into the secondary opening of the mounting band and said bracket aperture for screw threaded xation to said gun and detachably mounting said rib with at least longitudinal fixation on said barrel with said band adjacent at least one of said forearm and said bracket.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a compressible member mounted on said take-down screw operative to thrust the band against at least one of the bracket -and forearm.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner 2,861,344 11/ 1958 Moore 42-1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,874,504 2/1959 Mal'lllek 42--1 11/1905 stannard er al. 42,-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/ 1919 De Cazen 42-40 5 1,141,525 4/ 1957 France.

4/ 1926 McIntosh 42-1 Tomiska F A. Pflmary Examlller.

8/ 1949 Harvey 42-75 R. V. LO'ITMANN, Assistant Examiner. 

4. A GUN HAVING A BARREL AND A DIGH RIB DETACHABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BARREL, SAID RIB COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING BETWEEN ITS ENDS A LENGTH OF UPPER SIGHT SURFACE, SAID MEMBER HAVING DEPENDENT THEREFROM INTERMEDIATE SAID ENDS A SINGLE MOUNTING BAND INTEGRAL WITH SAID MEMBER AND HAVING A MAIN OPENING FOR RECEIVING SAID BARREL UNDER SAID MEMBER AND ALSO HAVING A SECONDARY OPENING EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH SAID MAIN OPENING FOR RECEIVING ANOTHER OF THE EXISTING GUN PARTS IN PARALLELISM WITH SAID BARREL FOR DETACHABLY FIXING SAID RIB ON SAID BARREL, SAID MEMBER HAVING MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID ENDS AND SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF SAID MEMBER THEREBETWEEN IN CONTIGUITY WITH SAID BARREL AND RETAINED AGAINST LATERAL MOVEMENT, AN APERTURED BARREL BRACKET DEPENDING FROM SAID BARREL, SAID GUN INCLUDING AMONG ITS OTHER EXISTING GUN PARTS A FOREARM AND A DETACHABLE TAKE-DOWN SCREW ADAPTED FOR PASSAGE INTO THE SECONDARY OPENING OF THE MOUNTING BAND AND SAID BRACKET APERTURE FOR SCREW THREADED FIXATION TO SAID GUN AND DETACHABLY MOUNTING SAID RIB WITH AT LEAST LONGITUDINAL FIXATION ON SAID BARREL WITH SAID BAND ADJACENT AT LEAST OEN OF SAID FOREARM AND SAID BRACKET. 